HOW SAVVY ARE OUR SENIORS ONLINE?
Should Your Grandfather Friend you on Facebook?
Social Media and Technology Use www.aarp.org
Among Adults 50+
AARP had a Survey conducted byGfK to find out about seniors and their use of social media and technology. The purpose of this study was to gather information on peoples use of social media and technology. .
Findings of the survey include:
Two out of five (40%) adults age 50 and over consider themselves extremely (17%) or very (23%) comfortable using the Internet. One out of five (21%) Hispanic adults age 50 and over consider themselves extremely (6%) or very (15%) comfortable using the Internet.
Most adults 50+ prefer to get their news from print newspapers and magazines (40%) or through a combination of print and online news sources (26%). One in ten prefers to get their news through newspaper and magazine websites only (10%). One-half of Hispanic adults say they either do not access the news or get their news from sources other than print or online (50%).
Amongst adults 50+ who get their news online, one-third use cable news station websites (33%) and newspaper and magazine websites (33%).
The majority of those 50+ who access the internet do so from a desktop computer (57%). One-quarter use a laptop (26%), 4 percent use smartphones/blackberries, 4 percent use mobile phones, and one-quarter (27%) do not access the internet. The majority of Hispanic adults 50+ say they do not access the Internet (55%).
Approximately one-quarter of all those 50+ use social media websites (27%) with Facebook being by far the most popular (23%). Among those who say they access the Internet, almost two-fifths (37%) use social networking sites, with almost one-third (31%) using Facebook. Approximately one-fifth of all Hispanics 50+ use social media websites (21%) with Facebook being the most popular (13%).
Among adults 50+ who use social media websites, three-quarters (73%) are connected to relatives other than children and grandchildren, three-fifths are connected to their children (62%), and one-third (36%) are connected to grandchildren. Among those introduced by a family member, three-fifths (63%) said it was their child.
Most respondents had heard of the Apple iPad (83%) and a small percentage of these respondents already own one (2%). Another one-tenth of those aware plan on or want to purchase an iPad (11%). Fewer Hispanic respondents had heard of the Apple iPad (59%).
INTERVIEW WITH: Nataki Clarke, VP on line marketing
AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan membership organization that helps people 50+ have independence, choice and control in ways that are beneficial and affordable to them and society as a whole. AARP does not endorse candidates for public office or make contributions to either political campaigns or candidates. We produce AARP The Magazine, the definitive voice for 50+ Americans and the world’s largest-circulation magazine with over 35.5 million readers; AARP Bulletin, the go-to news source for AARP’s 40 million members and Americans 50+; AARP Segunda Juventud, the only bilingual U.S. publication dedicated exclusively to the 50+ Hispanic community; and our website, AARP.org. AARP Foundation is an affiliated charity that provides security, protection, and empowerment to older persons in need with support from thousands of volunteers, donors, and sponsors. We have staffed offices in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
